Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Lacrosse Welcomes 13 Recruits
6/14/2005 8:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
June 14, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Head women's lacrosse coach Jess Spadafora will enter her second year at Bucknell armed with 13 new recruits that she hopes will infuse a diverse wealth of strengths into the program. The class features student-athletes from eight different states and includes highly regarded players at attack, midfield and defense.
"I could not be more excited about the blend of student-athletes that will be here next year," said Spadafora of her first complete recruiting class at Bucknell. "As a group they are very strong and athletic and come from outstanding lacrosse backgrounds. Many of them just finished playing in regional or state playoffs. The fact that eight different states are represented in this recruiting class, is a testament to the growth of lacrosse, and it is so exciting for me to see the Bucknell lacrosse program expanding nationally."
"It is also a very strong class academically, with the average SAT score at about 1300," added Spadafora.
Spadafora is particularly eager to work with a talented group of attack players, all of whom were proven scorers at the high school level. Jackie Bodnar (Madison, N.J./Madison), Sarah Collins (Goldens Bridge, N.Y./John Jay), Bridget LaCroix (Norwalk, Conn./Green Farms Academy) and Casan Van Langen (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Torrey Pines) are all athletic performers who can put the ball in the net.
"We are definitely gaining speed and athleticism," said Spadafora. "Jackie Bodnar is an all-conference player in a very competitive league. She is a determined finisher and will add great depth to our offense. Sarah Collins is another who could make an immediate impact. She really sees the field well and is a play-starter as well as a finisher. She has a scorer's touch, that will bring great things to our offense next season. Bridget LaCroix is simply a force. she has scored 57 goals this season and led her team to the state playoffs. At 5-10 she really uses her height as an advantage, and she has outstanding stick skills. And Casan Van Langan is another athletic scorer with an innate field sense."
Five incoming players will likely line up at one of the midfield spots, including Jen Chalavoutis (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields), Megan Costello (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset), Alex Hulme (Framingham, Mass./Framingham), Katlyn Recchia (Towson, Md./Towson) and local product Sarah Surgala (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area).
"This whole group of midfielders adds a dimension of speed and athleticism to our team," said Spadafora. "They are all very disciplined and can run all day in the midfield, they will provide us with depth, that will allow us to maintain a strong tempo in a very important part of the field. Megan Costello could really help us offensively as a quick lefty who has a strong drive to the goal. Jen, Alex, Katlyn and Sarah are all hustlers with solid fundamentals."
While the Bison do return a solid corps of defenders in 2006, led by two-time All-Patriot League pick Rachel Prowler, even more support is on the way with four incoming freshmen expected to play on defense. Catherine Barry (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool), Nikki Chacosky (West Chester, Pa./Unionville), Colleen Evans (Lexington, Va./Rockbridge County) and Alex Radebaugh (Freeland, Md./Notre Dame Prep) are all smart players with terrific leadership potential, according to Spadafora.
"I am really excited about this group of defenders," said Spadafora. "They all have a good defensive mindset, they are aggressive and understand the approach that we are working toward building a championship atmosphere here."
Bucknell graduated only three seniors from last year's rebuilding squad that finished 4-12 overall, 2-4 in the Patriot League. The Bison qualified for the Patriot League Tournament in 2003 and 2004, including a berth in the league championship game in 2003.
Below are capsules on each of the 13 incoming women's lacrosse recruits.
Name Pos. Hometown/High School Catherine Barry D Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool Jackie Bodnar A Madison, N.J./Madison Nikki Chacosky D West Chester, Pa./Unionville Jen Chalavoutis M Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields Sarah Collins A Goldens Bridge, N.Y./John Jay Megan Costello M Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset Colleen Evans D Lexington, Va./Rockbridge County Alex Hulme M/D Framingham, Mass./Framingham Bridget LaCroix A Norwalk, Conn./Green Farms Academy Alex Radebaugh D Freeland, Md./Notre Dame Prep Katlyn Recchia M Towson, Md./Towson Sarah Surgala M Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area Casan Van Langen A/M Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Torrey PinesCatherine Barry
Born Dec. 7, 1986 in Syracuse, N.Y. ... daughter of Robert and Pamela Barry ... has a sister, Carolyn ... father played hockey at Fairfield University ... earned four varsity letters in lacrosse and three in field hockey at Liverpool High School ... in lax was a first-team all-league defender ... named third-team All-Central New York ... Academic All-America and Section III Scholar-Athlete selection ... team captain ... led team to league championships in 2003 and 2004 ... Liverpool Lacrosse Hear, Heart and Hustle Award recipient ... in field hockey was twice named second-team all-league ... served as team captain as a senior ... helped lead the team to league and section titles in 2002, 2003 and 2004, as well as a regional title in 2002 ... three-time Section III Scholar-Athlete in field hockey.
Jackie Bodnar
Born Aug. 8, 1987 in Morristown, N.J. ... daughter of John and Karen Bodnar ... has a brother, John, who plays lacrosse at Cabrini College ... father played lax at Hobart ... uncle, Glenn Bodnar, played football at William & Mary and for the Washington Redskins ... three-sport standout at Madison High School, lettering in lacrosse, swimming and field hockey ... 2005 lacrosse team captain ... last season was named Daily Record First Team All-Area ... also named to First Team All-Stars Division ... also captained the field hockey team.
Nikki Chacosky
Born June 16, 1987 in Media, Pa. ... daughter of Charles and Debbie Chacosky ... has a sister, Kate, and a brother, Austin ... Kate is captain of the Lycoming College cheerleading squad ... joins former Unionville High School teammates Lauren Kremer and Lizzy McDaniel on the Bison ... played varsity lacrosse and soccer ... first team all-area pick in 2004-05 ... helped lead team to second place in district ... team captain ... honorable mention all-area selection in 2003-04 ... second team all-area pick in soccer ... soccer team won district title in 2004.
Jen Chalavoutis
Born May 12, 1987 in Huntington, N.Y. ... daughter of Christopher and Lorraine Chalavoutis ... has a brother, Michael ... four-year letterwinner in both lacrosse and swimming at Harborfields High School ... captained the lax squad as a senior ... earned 2004 Suffolk County Unsung Hero Award ... was a four-time all-league swimmer ... 2003 team swimming MVP and 2004 captain.
Sarah Collins
Born Nov. 27, 1986 ... daughter of Patrick and Kathy Collins ... earned all-league, all-section and MVP honors in lacrosse for John Jay High School in 2005 ... team captain ... had 56 goals and 28 assists as a senior and had 149 goals and 54 assists in her career ... Journal News first-team all-star ... Loyola College Elite 300 All-Star ... played on New York Empire State Games team ... also earned all-league and all-section honors as a sophomore and junior ... played three years of varsity basketball and volleyball, earning all league honors in both, in addition to lacrosse.
Megan Costello
Born Dec. 3, 1986 in Manhasset, N.Y. ... daughter of Robert and Maureen Costello ... has a brother, Bobby, and a sister, Maura, who played lacrosse at Notre Dame ... earned three varsity letters in lacrosse and two in crew at Manhasset High School ... helped lead team to a state championship in 2003 and the state semifinals in 2004 and 2005 ... team won Long Island and Nassau County championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Colleen Evans
Born Apr. 20, 1987 in Hartford, Conn. ... daughter of David and Theresa Evans ... has a brother, Gordon, and a sister, Kelly, who plays lacrosse at Washington & Lee ... lettered four years in lax and once in cross country ... lacrosse team co-captain as a senior, when she was named team MVP ... also named first team all-region and first team all-district as both a junior and senior ... second team all-district as a sophomore ... earned Academic All-America honors ... four-year starter on three-time regional champion and two-time district champion at Rockbridge County High School ... team went on to capture Virginia AA state championship in 2005.
Alex Hulme
Born Aug. 14, 1987 in Framingham, Mass. ... daughter of George and Pam Hulme ... has two brothers, Nathaniel and Colin ... Colin plays lacrosse at Colgate, while Nathaniel was a member of the rowing team at Colby ... lettered three times each in lacrosse and soccer and twice in ice hockey at Framingham High School ... two-time team captain ... First Team Bay State League All-Star in 2004 and 2005 ... Academic All-American ... team captain ... First Team All-Galaxy in summer 2004.
Bridget LaCroix
Born Sept. 2, 1987 in Norwalk, Conn. ... daughter of Chris and Kathleen LaCroix ... has a sister, Caitlin, and a brother, Chris ... lettered four times each in basketball and field hockey and three times in lacrosse ... bounced back from a knee injury as a sophomore to earn US Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2005 ... two-year team captain ... led team with 57 goals as a senior ... also named New England Prep School All-Star and to FAA All-League Team ... team MVP ... member of Connecticut Select Team ... recipient of Greens Farms Academy Outstanding Athlete Award ... two-time team MVP and honorable mention all-league in basketball ... four-year starter on the hardwood ... led field hockey team in scoring as a senior and was named all-league and Western New England Prep School Association All-Star ... also a four-year starter in field hockey.
Alex Radebaugh
Born Feb. 23, 1987 in Towson, Md. ... daughter of Doug and Ellen Radebaugh ... has two brothers, Jesse and Russell ... Russell played lacrosse at Dartmouth ... father played lacrosse at Maryland from 1971-75 ... lettered twice in lax and three times in field hockey at Notre Dame Prep in Towson ... captained both sports ... lacrosse team was ranked as high as No. 3 in the Baltimore Sun poll ... two-time all-city and all-county first-team honoree and two-time second-team All-Metro pick in field hockey.
Katlyn Recchia
Born Aug. 16, 1987 in Towson, Md. ... daughter of David and Min Recchia ... has two brothers, Brandon and Ryan ... Brandon plays lacrosse at RPI ... lettered three times in lacrosse and twice in field hockey at Towson High School ... elected field hockey team captain.
Sarah Surgala
Born Nov. 4, 1986 in Cleveland, Ohio ... daughter of David and Susan Surgala ... has three siblings - Jennifer Covillion, Philip Surgala and Becky Surgala ... played lacrosse, field hockey and basketball at Lewisburg Area High School ... in lax was named Academic All-American, Mid-Penn League All-Star and Lancaster/York League All-Star ... two-year team captain ... MVP of River Sticks Tournament ... team was runner-up in Mid-Penn League and won Lancaster/York League title ... won silver medal at Keystone Games ... second-team all-district selection in field hockey ... PA elite 8 team ... named team's top offensive player ... high school lax coach was Karin Knisley, a member of the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame and former three-sport standout in field hockey, basketball and lacrosse.
Casan Van Langen
Born July 22, 1987 in San Diego, Calif. ... daughter of Jim and Leann Van Langen ... has two brothers, Anthony and James ... father played lacrosse at Navy ... lettered three times in lacrosse and twice in field hockey at Torrey Pines High School ... team captain as a senior ... named first team all-state as a senior ... first team all-league and first team all-county in 2004 and 2005 ... U.S. Lacrosse National Academic All-American ... Union Tribune All-Academic Team in 2004 and 2005 ... earned all-tournament honors at Surf, Sun and Stix Invitational ... earned team's Spirit and Heart Award in 2005.
